What do I Think of....?

Calorie - Sakuragi Yaya

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:32:49 GMT

Calorie by Sakuragi Yaya

Publisher : Gust Comics

ISBN : 4-7567-1465-X

Two men who share the same mutual childhood friend, got together first as friends then as lovers. Sakuragi Yaya has woven a sweet plot in Calorie. It is not just a story about friendship turning into love but also the exploration of a new budding relationship fraught with the usual insecurities stemming from doubts,fears and a lack of communication.

Toshiyuki Tsuchiya has been in love with his best friend and childhood friend, Yasuhira for the past 15 years. For years, in ignorance of his best friend's feelings for him, Yasuhira had been throwing his growing list of girlfriends in Toshi's face. Yasu didn't realise that every time he did that, it cuts deep into Toshi's heart. Toshiyuki and Jun weren't originally good friends, they just happened to share a mutual childhood friend in Yasuhira.

Fate brought the two together when one day, Jun caught Toshiyuki crying his heart out over Yasu, who had once again introduced yet another new girlfriend to him. Jun consoled Toshi as best he could and realised that there was more to Yasu's other childhood friend.

Jun's thoughts : After talking, I realized we seemed to be on the same wavelength. Afterwards, I became the one he confided in. Everytime Yasuhira got a new girlfriend, Toshiyuki would cry in front of me

But one day, all that changed when Toshi announced to Jun that he's giving Yasuhira up. 15 years of unrequited crush is too long to bear before one gives up. Call it impulse or what you will, but Jun suddenly suggested that they go out together. Toshi was hesitant as he was afraid that this would end up being one-sided again.

They are now quietly but officially going out with each other but the status quo has not changed at all from before. Doubts begin to assail Jun as he contemplated where they were headed as this relationship was a first for both of them. Although Jun is keen to see the relationship go further, he is still a little uncertain on how to treat Toshiyuki. Basically he treats Toshi just like the way he would treat a female date but with more awkwardness involved.

Take for example their very first date. Toshi had expressed his desire to go to the carnival for his first date. Normally there would be no hesitation on Jun's part if the said partner was a female.

Jun's POV : Eventhough I'm kind of embarrassed...Who cares as long as he's happy

Another example would be at the end of the date, Jun was about to give Toshi a kiss when he suddenly flinced as Jun's mouth was descending towards his.

Toshi : ..Ah...Sorry!! I was just startled!"(after mentally preparing himself) "OK, please!"

Jun : Wait, you actually said please.."*sweatdrops* "Is this your first kiss?"

Toshi : "It can't be helped. This is my first relationship."

ROFLMAO! and so freaking cute. Toshi had never had any kind of relationship with anyone because for the past 15 years, he only had eyes for Yasuhira. This was a fact Jun knew very well and because of that, doubts flourished like a seedling planted in his mind - wondering if Toshi was with him because he couldn't have Yasu, or that his lover was still pining away secretly for Yasuhira. That is why ladies and gents, DO NOT ever jump into a rebound relationship. It makes your current lover come up with the angstiest thoughts.

Jun's thoughts : "...I'm jealous. The way Toshiyuki looks at Yashuhira never changed. The truth really hurts me!"

Another tip is that couples in any sort of relationship need to communicate more otherwise it could result in a lot of misunderstandings that may or may not be cleared up.

Toshi (pissed off): "Why do you insist on us spending time alone?"

Jun : "The truth is...you still like Yasuhira, right?"

Toshi "Why are you saying this?!"

Jun : "Because, just then...you kept looking at me in a weird way!"

Toshi "Thats...! That's because I was afraid you would be mad..."

Aahhh...young gay love...but the convo gets better...Kettle calling the pot black.

Toshi "But you're the same! You don't like me at all, right?"

Jun : "Wait, why did the topic change to this?"

Toshi "Because...during the date, you looked so angry. The time we were about
to kiss..you stopped in the middle. Today too..."

Toshi sure looks darn cute sobbing there. Sakuragi sensei you rock. Hee.I find Jun's thought process to be humorously sweet and painful.

Jun's POV : "Waah! I made him cry! Before I was happy that I was able to stop you from crying, but now I'm the one that made you cry. But...somehow I also feel happy...such conflicting emotions."

And it was universally thought that women are fickle-minded. Hmmpph. Our adorable angsty couple finally lays the cards on the table with both sides assured that they are loved by the other party and no Yasuhira will get in the way. I think this is one of the sweetest moment in the whole series.

Jun: "Was that your first kiss?"

Toshi (blushing to the reddest degree. So KAWAII) : "So! What's wrong with that?"

Jun: "Then, not just your first date or kiss, all your firsts, I will receive it,okay?"

Okay, cue major fangirl SQUEES here.

A month after the stormy seas settled, it is now Toshi's turn to harbour doubts about the rightness in being with Jun. Toshi suddenly realises that his boyfriend is very desirable to the opposite sex and that although they've been dating for a month, the former still did not know Jun - what he liked and didn't like. He felt small and selfish that Jun seemed to take the trouble to find out and observe, he did not do the same for Jun. Not only that, they were still feeling their way around as a gay couple in public. The number of times they were about to kiss only to be interrupted. Hee. That and Toshi's perpetually blushing face. Kawaii just doesn't seem to do him justice.

Toshi's POV: "I don't remember how many kisses we've shared, but everytime Jun kisses me, my mind becomes blank. I've never kissed anyone else, so I can't compare. Does everyone feel this way? Want more"

This takes place when Toshi invites Jun back home - again, for the first time. But unfortunately dear readers, nothing happens as I belive Jun sensed Toshi's uncertainty and nervousness and decided to leave before things went too far along. Ah, if only he could read Toshi's mind. Our blushing uke even cleaned up the house in anticipation of Jun dropping by. LOL! He did wonder if he was going too fast but it seemed that he's SLOW when he overheard a convo a group of girls were having in the coffee shop.

Girl 1 : "I did it during 2nd week of going out!"

Girl 2 : "I was friends with him first, we did it after a week."

Girl 3 : "I'm faster, we did it after a day!"

Toshi thinks : "Everyone is so fast..Is it normally like this?"

Girl :"Ne, ne..if your partner doesn't ask for it, you'll feel like you're not attractive

enough and feel bothered, right?"

All of a sudden a heavenly spotlight shone only on Toshi as he grappled with the revelation and starts wondering what was it about him that Jun liked? For that matter what sort of girls did Jun like? In order to find out, poor Toshi could only ask one person that knew Jun well enough...Yasuhira, the object of his former infatuation. He gets even more depressed when Yasu tells him. It is true that it's best not to ask your other half how many people they went out with before you. The truth would be too painful to bear.

But during the convo with Yasu, Toshi finds out that he was inadvertantly responsible for turning Yasu into a playboy.

Yasu :"Then I'll tell you something even more weird. Before, I thought I liked
you!"

And of course like a predictable telenovela, Jun overheard the last part and mayhem ensued.

Yasu :"I think it was around junior year one or two. At that time, I didn't have any girls I liked. Also I was closest with you. Plus we've known each other for a long time. At that time, I thought I was gay! Scared me to death!"

NOW you tell him? You idiotic insensitive lout!!

Yasu :"It became weird, so that's why I went and got a girlfriend. Then, I couldn't stop getting girls!! It seems I was just thinking too much. It must've been one of those at the moment kind of things, huh?"

Having said that, Toshiyuki felt guilty as he realised that HE was the culprit that
turned Yasu into a playboy. ROFLMAO!!

But a bigger problem awaits poor Toshi, Jun has begun to avoid his boyfriend as he thought that Toshi finally had what he wanted for the past 15 years. Didn't they already hash this problem out?? Jeez.

Luckily for Toshiyuki, he managed to corner the elusive Jun at last and they had another one of their heart-to-heart talk, in which they both bared their insecurities, feelings and thoughts.

Tonight, Jun received one of Toshi's many first - a hickey...and the rest they say, we leave it to your overactive imagination.

Imagine this scenario, boy takes girl out on a date, boy pays for dinner and movie and the girl quietly accepts it as her due - normal right? But what if boy takes boy out on a date, boy pays for dinner and movie and the other boy feels small and wishes to pay for dinner and movie with the love of his life?

Yup you guessed it - Jun has been taking care of the expenses and every other aspect of their relationship. Movie, dinner, coffee, lube and it's driving Toshi to the depths of despair.

It all happened when Toshi finds a bottle of lube and suddenly realises something.

"After seeing this I suddenly thought of something...everything was prepared by Jun...even the condom. Am I depending on him too much? Wait! After thinking about it everytime we go on a date, Jun always pays! Usually when having a girlfriend, it should be like this...But if it was a girl, you don't even need this stuff" (He's referring to the lube. I'd like to think that we are an equal opportunity kind of sex.)

Another one of those funny awkward moment occurs as Jun sees Toshi clutching the lube and his explanation on the origin of where the lube came from. These two sure blush alot and it's so, so, so loveable seeing them bumbling around like that.
Hee.

A comedy of sorts ensue when Toshi, determined to do something for Jun tries to find out when his lover's birthday is but didn't get a chance to ask till his own birthday arrives and Yasu was with him, helping him celebrate without Jun.

"If I tell him to come today, then that means he's doing everything for me!"

LOL. Such twisted thinking..

During a bout of conversation with Yasu, Toshi realises that the only birthday greeting he wants to hear from most is Jun's. Sigh...our Toshi is a baka.

But the sweetest moment was when Yasu and Toshi were leaving the eatery, Jun suddenly appears out of breath and calls out to Toshi.

"Toshiyuki. Come here. (and extends a hand to Toshi. Damn Jun looked so

glompalicious and authoritative. Swoons. I love me a take-charge guy)"

Toshiyuki :"Eh? Okay" and without thinking further he automatically reaches out his hand to Jun's, forgetting that Yasu was still standing there.

Our dashing seme-who-broods-so-gorgeously sweeps Toshi away from Yasu and asks oh-so angstily why Toshi didn't tell him about his birthday and proceeded to berate himself for being such a failure. Toshi hurriedly explains that he was with Yasuhira because he wanted to know when Jun's birthday was.

And...they had another sweet but funny moment together.

Toshi:"It's because I always depend on you..and you do so much for me...(SOBS) But you always tell me to not be bothered..."

Jun (sweatdrops) :"Wah! Toshiyuki! Toshi...Actually we always have the same kind of concerns..."

Toshi:"Eh? Why?"

Jun :"Because I took away so many things that are important to you, the me like this...is actually too selfish!"

Toshi:"I didn't give you anything."

Jun :"You did! I took all your firsts."

Toshi:"!" (Blushes hotly)

After settling their issues, yet once again, Jun finally gives Toshi the one thing he wanted the most, "Happy Birthday."

From personal experience, nothing beats having your loved one wish you on your birthday even without any presents. It's a really, really fuzzy and warm feeling. Sigh..now do you know why I love this soooo much?

The lines here in the artwork is clean and neat. The layout easy on the eyes and it's easy to capture the whole story in a glance. There is no unnecessary busy backgrounds or overdone details.

The expressions on both the main characters is nicely drawn. I especially love the the slight downward slope of their lips when their deep in thought or sad. The slight sexy uptilt smirk on the seme is definitely a trademark of Sakuragi sensei. Her smirking hot semes are the best.

They're beautiful without having go overboard and you get sucked right into the story just like that. I like that the issues that Toshi and Jun are dealing with is common to alot of us in relationships.

Last but not least, I have to apologise if my grammar and tenses are all mixed up. I never could tell the difference anyway and hope that it won't put anyone off reading this title from Sakuragi Yaya. Thank you for enduring my rather long and incoherent synopsis and review. ~Chuu

You Are My Queen - A Peasant's Humble review

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 02:27:32 GMT

You Are My Queen by Miki Araya

Publisher : Gust Comics

ISBN : 4-7567-1492-7

Moriya Tadayoshi is a dedicated, hardworking department chief in the marketing department (I assume it is marketing as they didn't really specify but based on his job functions.) of Hokuto Jewelry. Moriya-san is currently stressed out as he is unable to find the right model for a new product Hokuto will be marketing soon.

Moriya-san has rejected EVERY single candidates that the modelling & entertainment agencies has sent because in his mind they lack a certain something special that is needed for this new product. (Dude is picky and a perfectionist)

At his wits end, he leaves the office and decides to scout around at the agencies but still he didn't find what he was looking for. While he was wallowing in self pity:

"I want someone with features that are beautiful and delicate, and a presence that wins over the crowd. People will tremble before his beauty and will do anything for him."

NOW do you know why he couldn't find this paragon of perfection in the agencies? If this wasn't a manga, it is highly unlikely he'll ever find someone like that in real life. I am not sure if the 'he', 'him' and 'his' in the speech was translated according to Moriya's subconscious looking for a male model or based on the fact that Itsuki had already made an appearance that screams "Moriya! I am YOUR ideal!" that made the translator translate accordingly.

So saying that he suddenly felt his whole existence shake and tremble before the very presence and beauty of one Ouno Itsuki-kun, a highschool student who was currently holding
court with fellow schoolmates/classmates.

Right away we can tell that Ouno Itsuki is a Queen of few words and cooly indifferent to the fawning that goes on around him. One of them was trying in vain to encourage his Majesty that the shop they were heading to is not far away. Ouno-kun was having none of that and stated quietly that he was tired. Having issued the edict, the gang of courtiers scrambled around looking for a place for their beloved Queen to rest and one with not too many people as Ouno-kun dislikes crowded places. Ouno-kun seems to dislike many things and he seems to be very economical with his words and actions.

Like all royalties before him, he never ever acknowledges the deeds the little people perform to make his life easier. This was realised by Moriya-san a little later on in the story.

"...he's never aware of others' sacrifices for him, taking them all for granted. Yes, he basically lives for others to sacrifice themselves for him. In other words, sacrificing,
for him, is a task given by God!"

Moriya approaches the royal party and makes his pitch. One of the ways to show that he is wholly sincere in recruiting Ouno-kun is to kneel down and bow his head repeatedly to the floor - he bleeds. I reckon it's because of all that blood plus the promise that he, Moriya, will do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING to make Ouno-kun's life pleasant while working for Hokuto. Who can resist a man who is willing to prostrate himself at your feet and promises to be at your beck and call?

Moriya kept his word : He diligently wipes Ouno's sweat from his whole body, fetches drinks for him, even prepares a special sofa for his Queen to rest on complete with fluffy pillows. When he found out that Ouno's feet has swelled by 0.5 pounds, he immediately set out a basin of water and massaged the 0.5 pounds away. Of course his hero worshipping minions were not pleased that their 'GOD' was reduced to performing menial, ungod-like tasks (I'm pretty sure that even God had to do housework too). Moriya was sensitive and attentive to every Ouno's every sigh, look and so on. He even provides sexual favours to the young highschooler because Ouno had said that this modelling job was cramping his style in such a way that he has had no time to find 'release' and he's about to explode.

Moriya is definitely a man of his words though I hadn't expected his diligence to carry on into the bedroom either.

A sort of rapport and affection has somehow developed between uke and seme. The affections more clearly seen with the seme than with the uke. Itsuki gives no inkling of his feelings towards Moriya but it is understood by the readers of his growing feelings for Moriya based on the flashback scenes whenever he thinks of Moriya or compares others to what Moriya has done for him. Moriya has worshipfully told his Queen that he can't live without Ouno. The words must've affected Ouno deeply but no evidence of the ripples could be seen on his serene indifferent face.

But of course their unconventional partnership and happiness does not last. Moriya and Ouno were temporarily apart due to the fact that Ouno was not convinced that he was the love of
Moriya's life, and had signed up with Hokuto's rival company, Higashi Jewelry.

Eventhough, Ouno now works for Higashi, Moriya still comes and picks him up after every assignment. Unfortunately, Moriya had misunderstood that he was standing in the way of
Ouno's happiness when Ouno asked why he still came to pick him up.

Apparently Ouno had taken the job at the rival company because he thought that he was not important enough for Moriya when told by his fawning courtiers that their Queen was scouted. Moriya was either extremely baka or got his wires crossed somewhere. Instead of being concerned, he was extremely smug and full of pride that his beloved was scouted. There began the journey to hell.

At his new work place, Ouno was slowly becoming depressed as he frequently compared the others to Moriya and they came up very short.

Miya Higashi a.k.a deputy president, who is in charge of the promotions & marketing at Higashi is a long time rival of Moriya - in school, in sports, popularity. Miya was always standing in Moriya's shadow in second place. Miya saw this as a chance of killing two birds with one stone by signing Ouno with Higashi.

One of the funny exchanges in the manga is when Moriya comes to pick Ouno up when Miya first approaches Ouno.

Miya : "I'm going to sign him on! Just you watch!"

Moriya : "Sign on...you mean you're trying to steal Itsuki-san?"

Miya : "Don't pretend to be stupid!"

Moriya: "I just got here, what do you mean 'Don't pretend to be stupid'?"

Miya was irked that Ouno was not 100% in his clutches as an indicator that he beat Moriya for once in his life. He took advantage of Ouno's depression and melancholia. He offered his 'services' to Ouno and Ouno being depressed took him up on his offer.

They had sex - Miya turned out to be one of those selfish kind of lovers bent on pleasing himself first than caring for his partner's needs. A close up of Ouno during the act had his face pulled in a slight wince. Not very noticeable, but as he thought back, Moriya was very caring of his well-being and if it had been Moriya there instead of Miya, Moriya would've immediately ceased all movements and apologised for hurting him and did all the hard work. Sadly for Ouno this was the reverse with Miya. After Miya was done (pretty smug about his nonexistent sexual prowess too!), Ouno called Moriya over.

Moriya was on cloud nine when he got the call from Ouno-kun and rushes to Miya's place. Of course at this point I did wonder why Moriya never asked himself what his beloved was doing in Miya's place.

Rushed there, got there and saw for himself the evidence of his beloved's infidelity - lovebites...and also the fact that he was still lounging in bed undressed. Rushed out in a state of denial, torrent of streaming tears and NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

The next day, a notice was pinned on the company bulletin board that Moriya has now been transferred to Hokuto's branch in XXX. (He's been demoted due to the rumours circulating in the company that he's planning to leave Hokuto for Higashi.)

Meanwhile in Higashi during Ouno's photo session, the photographer remarked the following eventhough Ouno showed no signs of it on his expressionless face though to me he looked like he was kind of pining.

"I think he looks slightly different from the usual. Yes, he looks slightly more depressed. Like's he's frustrated about something."

Funny how a photographer can tell something is up with Ouno and Miya can't. Miya is ecstatic over what he deems to be victory of his arch nemesis when Moriya hadn't come see Ouno for 3 days now.

Missing him, Ouno went to Hokuto to see him and spots a junior holding onto his beloved slav- er, I mean lover's hands. Ouno in a rare display of jealousy, runs off with Moriya chasing after him. Wow! He must really really have deep feeling for Moriya if he chose to exert himself in a physical way. Finally cornering Ouno-kun in an alley, where they had a heart-to-heart conversation.

For the first time, you could see Ouno's emotions clearly on his face - he cried. Of course since he is the Queen of all he surveys, there's no funny, torrents of tears for him. Just a gently drawn pair of eyes welling up with tears gracefully trickling down one side of his face. Beautiful, just beautiful. For the first time, again, also, there was a genuine wide smile on Ouno's face as they professed how much they loved each other. Awww...how sweet.

Again, Moriya had to overreact. I blame it all on Miki sensei. Moriya had streams of tears down his face, "This is...so great. To be able to be alive. IS JUST TOO GREAT!!"

*sweatdrops* The background scened for this was lovely shoujo roses at the bottom half of the panel with sparkly lights in the background and to finish it all off, one cherubic angel smilling down at Moriya from both the top corners of the panel.

The next day, Moriya comes into work with Ouno in tow and working for Hokuto again..They were all happy and eventhough they anticipated some problems regarding Ouno's contract with Higashi, nothing of that nature occurred as Miya had forgotten to ask Ouno to sign on the dotted line. LOL!!

My thoughts
From what I could see, the lines are clean and not much fuss going into the background details except for the lightning that signifies great shock or a great epiphany of some sorts; the sparkly lights or feathers and so on. The body languages are as usual, like all Miki sensei's works, over the top and dramatic. But this one of the things that make Miki sensei's work so funny and lovable.

An outstanding job in rendering Itsuki's beautiful liquid brown doe-like eyes. It has a kind of mysterious charm and drawing power that compels anyone who looks at him to do anything they can to please him. Itsuki's facial features are delicate, lovely but fragile. I got the vibe of a bored Prince languishing away on his throne in boredom.

Looking at the close up of the eyes, I felt that it has a life of its own, that it's almost real. While in the early stages, I could tell that from limited facial mobility of Ouno's indifference but later on despite the same said limitations, I could discern awakening feelings, depression and melancholia in the eyes. The eyes are truly windows to the soul.

Funny scenes IMHO :

# 1
During a bath scene, Moriya became the 'human chair' because he deemed the usual low stool too hard for his precious Ouno-kun. I'm not sure how he came to that conclusion as I'm pretty sure Ouno must have sat his pretty little behind on that stool way before Moriya came into his life. Then it was sex in the bathtub. Miki sensei shows her funny bones in this scene where there was a Moriya thought blurb that goes like this :"I'll put all my heart, soul, body and blood into doing it!" And on the lower right hand corner with an arrow pointing towards where they were joined came this little precious gem of a blurb : "Sperm, too."

# 2
The flashback scene of Moriya and Ouno while the latter was with Miya in bed.

Real time Miya : "It's not enough. Shall we go again?"

Miya doesn't really care if Ouno wants to go for another round as Ouno just looks up at him wordlessly.

Flashback scene Moriya : "How about right here? Itsuki-san can be on top, and I'll do the rest..."

Also in this scene where Ouno is drawn sitting in Moriya's lap, Miki sensei's evil evil arrows makes an appearance with one arrow pointing to Moriya, "Seme" and the other arrow at
Ouno, "Uke" ROFLMAO!

# 3
Still in the scenario with Miya, Miya came and a little blurb at the bottom of that 'cumming' panel says 'He already came.'

Living in his delusions of grandeur or rather sexual prowess, Miya says that Ouno-kun has been really great, >.< while Ouno just looks up quietly with his big, soulful doe eyes. (Duh! No wonder Miya is always second best.)

# 4
Moriya's escape from Miya's condo. His whole expression, body language and my gawd, the tears, the tears. Hee.

# 5
After reconciliation, they made love and again Miki sensei attacks the readers with her infamous arrows.

First panel, where Moriya is thrusting into Ouno from the back, Ouno says ,"Still havent"

Second panel, where Moriya is still thrusting, the arrow makes an appearance pointing towards Ouno's crotch with 'Still hasn't'

Third panel where they were both sitting up and Moriya is facing Ouno's back, still thrusting, Ouno crying out "More...More.." and the arrow pointing at the uke, 'Still, still hasn't.

The final panel, Where Moriya came, who knows how many times already, the final arrow makes an appearance, 'Still, still, still hasn't.'